Tensile assessment of woven CFRP using finite element method: A benchmarking and preliminary study for thin-walled structure application

Abstract

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are a composite material popular for thin-walled structure applications because of their advantages over other materials. In this study, numerical simulation analysis based on the finite-element method to identify the tensile behavior of CFRP woven material has been carried out. The method used has been verified and validated using a benchmarking procedure with the results of previous research. Errors in the simulation results are less than 10%, indicating a valid method that can be used for further research. The stress–strain distribution of each layer, the effect of ply orientation on tensile strength, the comparison of failure criteria used, and the comparison of several types of reinforcements often used have been investigated. The results showed that the characteristics of each inner layer received tensile loading visualized in the form of stress strains. Choosing the right layer angle on CFRP woven can affect the performance and strength of the material. Failure criteria that are appropriate to specific application conditions are important. Puck criteria can be used for simple applications, which require only the analysis of the main stresses in the material. Tsai–Hill and Tsai–Wu criteria can provide more accurate predictions and are better suited for loading conditions and more complex material types. Carbon fiber has better characteristics when compared to S-glass and E-glass.

Keywords

• finite element method
• tensile test
• cfrp
• thin-walled structure